It was a big day last Saturday at the shed, with the concrete slab being laid, which was a condition of the Gold Coast City Council to renew our lease for the shed. [See article below – Ed.]
Rotary International’s monthly theme for February is ‘Peace & Conflict Prevention’ (in the good ol’ days, it used to be ‘World Understanding’). So, where can we, as Rotarians, as “ordinary citizens” (if there is such a person) contribute to World Peace? Well, I would consider sponsoring young people to spend a year abroad as one of the major initiatives contributing. They learn how “people over there” live and think. They establish friendships that can last a lifetime. Sponsoring young, emerging leaders to attend leadership development events is another one.
So it is with great pleasure that we welcome Alissa Lott and Heidi Lehmann to speak at Surfers Sunrise this Wednesday. In 2018, Alissa spent a year in Minnesota, USA. How has the year abroad affected her since? Heidi Lehmann recently attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) camp. She will give us a brief rundown of her experiences.
In 2018, Alissa Lott (she is Ross Augustine's granddaughter), went to the USA on a 12 months Rotary Youth Exchange. 3 years after her return, she will give us a presentation on how the exchange experience affected her life.
Then we'll have a "Support Act" ☺: Heidi Lehmann, who recently attended the RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) camp. It will be a big morning!
Last Saturday, workers from Vespa Holdings, a concrete specialist firm in Coomera, laid down the concrete slab at the front of our project shed in Arundel. And the workers provided their labour pro bono! Thank you to the men, who wanted to remain unphotographed and unnamed...
This work was one of the conditions laid down by the Gold Coast City Council to allow us to renew the lease on the shed for a further 5 years. Many people may not be aware of the fact that, although the rental charge is a so-called "peppercorn" lease, contrary to a commercial lease, the upkeep, as well as the enhancement of the property is the lessee's responsibility. So it is great to learn that Vespa Holdings has substantially contributed to keeping those costs low. (Photo by Bryan Tuesley)
On Monday 30th January, planning commenced for a big PR event, designed to highlight one of our club's "real big" projects: the X-Ray Unit for Pentecost Island, Vanuatu. This is a Multi-Club project, which also involves the Rotary Clubs of Broadbeach and Gold Coast.
Mario chaired the meeting, attended by Dr Graham Sivyer (RC of Broadbeach), Greg Bowler (RC of Gold Coast), our Secretary Trent Belling and Nicole Bricknell. Nicole is charged with the overall organisation of the event, expected to be held at a breakfast on 5th April 2023 at the Cafe Catalina on the Broadwater Parklands, Southport. We expect various dignitaries to attend, including representatives from the federal, state and local governments.
Please put it into your diary now - this will be one of the most important meetings of the year for all members as well as associate members and all volunteers who have tirelessly worked to bring this project to fruition. (Photo by Trent Belling (l-r): Trent Belling, Nicole Bricknell, Dr Graham Sivyer, Greg Bowler, Mario Fairlie)
Duty Roster - note: subject to change - please check every week. Note: Fellowship duty also is expected to be at the Project Shed on the Saturday following the meeting
The Net is like the bible: you could find ironclad support for any old position if you snuffled around it long enough.Lionel Shriver in ‘So much for that’
'The strength of the team is each individual member - The strength of each member is the team' - Phil Jackson, American Basketball Professional
Came across this the other day, thought you'd like to know: (referring to a priest holding up a piece of bread and exclaiming) Hoc est corpus – Latin for ‘this is the body’ later became ‘Hocus pocus’ – the spell that could transform a frog into a prince… (Anonymous)